国际英语资讯:Ukrainian president, U.S. envoy meet on security issues

KIEV, Dec. 19 -- Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday met U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker to discuss security issues, the presidential press service said.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged their views on the situation in Kerch Strait and Ukraine's conflict-hit region of Donbas.

Poroshenko and Volker coordinated their positions regarding the actions to ensure respect for the freedom of navigation in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov and stressed the need for the release of ships and sailors seized during the Kerch incident.

Besides, they discussed the prospects of the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas, where armed conflict has been underway since April 2017.

Last month, Russian forces seized three Ukrainian naval ships and 24 sailors in the Kerch Strait separating the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, saying the Ukrainian ships breached its border.

Ukraine called Russia's actions an "act of aggression" and urged Moscow to release the captured ships and sailors.

Volker arrived in Kiev on Tuesday for a two-day visit.